By Ted Belman
I submit that the answer to both those questions is “no”. That is so long as Israel and the US do not waiver on the demand for demilitarization. From the point of view of Hamas, effective demilitarization will be the death of them. For them, chances of staying alive are better if they keep fighting. They may reason that as the war gets more bloody, they might get a better cease fire.
On the other hand they might accept quiet for quiet and avoid demilitarization. But that won’t get the borders open for them.
There is another issue that should be put on the table. As it is, Gaza is a prison for the Arabs living there or at least a pressure cooker. They number 1.8 million, 40% of whom are children. A solution must be found to facilitate their emigration. This is a problem that won’t go away. It will only get worse.
This problem is part of a bigger problem, namely the plight of the “Palestinian refugees” living in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Syria, which was home to just under 500,000 of them, has destroyed their refugee camps and displaced them again.
To date the Arab League has insisted that they be not naturalized of permitted to emigrate. It wants to use them as a pawn or thorn in Israel’s side to ensure their “right of return” to Israel and thereby, Israel’s destruction. They number in total now around 5 million although less than 50,000 refugees remain alive. The others are not refugees but descendants of refugees and their numbers are growing exponentially. Israel will not accept them in Israel and has called for their acceptance only in Palestine should it be created. But guess what, the Palestinian Authority won’t accept them either. And now there is a growing chorus of voices in Israel who are against their return to Judea and Samaria (West Bank) too, whether or not Palestine is created, because it would be too destabilizing.
It is increasingly likely that an independent Palestine will not come into existence. There will be no place for them to return to. Leaving them to rot in refugee camps or elsewhere in these countries without full rights or passports is a denial of their human rights. And yet no Human Rights organization has championed their cause. And that goes for the UN itself and all the countries of the world. This must change.
UNWRA was created in 1950, not to resettle these refugees but to “reintegrate” them in the area or to “repatriate” them to Israel. Over the years the idea of “reintegration” was dropped due to Arab resistance leaving only “repatriation” otherwise known as return, as the goal. In that it is a unique organization. In contrast, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) exists to resettle refugees in other countries which it has done for 50 million of them and counting.
To achieve its stated purpose, UNWRA inculcates a Palestinian identity in its charges keeps the idea of return, steadfast in their minds. This only perpetuates the conflict.
The US must spear head a movement to get the world to absorb these stateless people. UNCHR must be given responsibility for these “refugees” and UNWRA must be disbanded.
Perhaps the US could start with the “refugees” in Gaza. Since billions are to be spent in rebuilding Gaza, why not spend this money to resettle them elsewhere. Surveys have found that 80% of them would like to leave. Allow Israel to reoccupy Gaza and rebuild it at its own expense. Of course Israel’s sovereignty over Gaza would be recognized as part of the deal. Gaza would cease to exist.
This would eradicate Hamas. Saudia Arabia and UAR would gladly contribute billions.
@ Etzel:You and Ted are right in this. Also, the antisemites have even come after my largely non political website: Underzog’s website. Someone called RaHoWa (short for racial holy war) has practically called me a baby killer. We need firm Jewish leadership and we’re not getting that now. It seems that antisemites are feeling their oats and will continue to do so with Jewish weakness.
I do not see how Israel can go back to negotiating the creation of an independant state on it’s doorstep which kidnaps their children with impunity and murders them and then fires countless rockets into Israel hoping to hit a nuclear reactor in Dimona. Did you listen to Salam Fayyad. All of his concerns are for “Palestinians”, ONLY. Some “moderate”. A voice for peace they call him.
I would ship them out. Make the acceptance of The Gazans a condition for Israel’s contribution to the destruction of Iran’s Nuclear Program. Let the Saudis fund the transfer and arrange for where and how. Let it be THEIR problem. Until then, Israel should carve Gaza up with generous allowances for no mans land military zones. Hamas and any shred of terrorist organization of any ilk should be obliterated.
Obama should be told to butt out.
Israel should bring charges against The United Nations and The PA/Hamas etc. at The International Criminal Court for aiding and abeting terrorism.
Only an assertive Israel; on a continuous and exponentially increasing scale of proactivity, can stop the attacks. Confidence building measures are ones in which terrorist assets are degraded/demolished.
Etzel
Gaza truce crumbles as rockets hit Israel, fighting breaks out in Rafah
Hamas broke the ceasefire agreement with Israel and renewed rocket fire at Israel Friday morning.
Israel, Hamas officially accept US, UN ceasefire proposal – which only holds for two hours. .
A “humanitarian ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas has broken Friday, after Hamas fired yet another salvo of rockets on Israel despite the bilateral truce.
Mortar round falls short of Israel, landing in Gaza Strip, two hours after ceasefire comes into effect; Palestinian report IDF fire in Rafah area, claim eight killed.
There is no truce that Ham’ass will adhere to! The Ham-ass’s and their leaders must be completely eradicated.NormanF Said:
Etzel
Gaza truce crumbles as rockets hit Israel, fighting breaks out in Rafah
Hamas broke the ceasefire agreement with Israel and renewed rocket fire at Israel Friday morning.
Israel, Hamas officially accept US, UN ceasefire proposal – which only holds for two hours. .
A “humanitarian ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas has broken Friday, after Hamas fired yet another salvo of rockets on Israel despite the bilateral truce.
Mortar round falls short of Israel, landing in Gaza Strip, two hours after ceasefire comes into effect; Palestinian report IDF fire in Rafah area, claim eight killed.
There is no truce that Ham’ass will adhere to! The Ham-ass’s and their leaders must be completely eradicated.
Ted,
First rational things you’ve written since your last post. I fully agree with your points.
Hamas will not lay down its arms and the fighting will continue. We’re settling in for a long war of attrition, punctuated by periodic lulls in the fighting.
And Hamas will not capitulate to Israel in Cairo.